http://dimemag.com/2010/07/rudy-fernandez-tells-portland-to-send-him-home/#more-50079 Rudy Fernandez wants to go home. In a case of receiving too much, too soon, the Portland shooting guard told El Mundo Deportivo, “If I could reach an agreement with Portland, so that they would not trade me to another NBA team and they would accept my return to Europe, I’d be pleased.” He went on to add, “My agents are looking for the best trade for me, but at the end of the day only Portland can decide.” Before he came to the NBA, Fernandez was drawing comparisons to another unusual foreign wing player in Manu Ginobili. Fernandez racked up a lot of individual accomplishments with DKV Joventut of the Spanish ACB League and really shot to stardom with 22 points in the gold medal game at the 2008 Olympics against the Redeem Team. In his final season in Europe, Fernandez dropped 16.1 points a game. Expectations were high for him during a period when the prospects of the Blazers were even higher. Portland’s GM at the time, Kevin Pritchard, called him a “tremendous prospect who has excelled at the highest levels of international basketball.” Looking back, Fernandez was a victim of his own hype. He not only never lived up to the player he was supposed to be – in two seasons, Fernandez was basically a three-point shooter (though he did set a rookie season record by making 159 threes) – but he was also thrust into a bad situation. Portland was loaded at the wing position the last few seasons with people like Brandon Roy, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster and Nicolas Batum. There just wasn’t enough PT to go around. And it’s tough to get burn when the team’s best player mans the same position as you. Fernandez’s name came up in a lot of trade talks this offseason, including some rumblings he wanted to go to New York to play under Mike D’Antoni. He never really developed into the star many pinned him to be, though some of that assuredly had to do with Portland’s roster. Now, it sounds like Fernandez wants to return to Spain to rekindle that aura.
Yeah he doesn't sound like a guy I'd want to go after. We'd have alot of key players at key positions then BAM! Off to europe. Oh yeah, before someone else does it... BAM!! Signed,
He had his chance to prove himself last year when Roy went down. He would have earned a big contract if he performed well. Instead he played like crap and continues to whine.
Portland keeps repeating history. First Greg Oden turns out to be the next Sam Bowie... okay guys, let's try this next analogy. Rudy Fernandez is to Brandon Roy as *BLANK* is to Clyde Drexler. Hint: He got traded to the Nets.
Guys just want to play, sometimes they don't fit a particular team. I can't blame him for wanting to start, he probably would on some teams....but you only get so long as an NBA or Professional player, you might as well do whatever you think is best for your own career...... DD
If Przybilla has a career ending injury is his contract more valuable than Battier's as a trade asset? Fernandez + Przybilla (expiring & insurance covers 80% of salary if done) + rights to Freeland for Battier Rockets buyout Fernandez for $0, stipulation he returns to Europe Gives better odds if Rockets hedging their bets? 1) Trade Przybilla to under the cap team Przybilla (80% insur.) + $3M = cash profit for other team Rockets team salary: $71,977,084 + Luis's salary * includes max incentives for Hayes LT threshold: $70.307M Battier + Andersen + Taylor = $10,710,371 Possible to get under tax if Luis's salary + $1,670,084 < $10.71M OR if a star becomes available 2a) Brooks + Hill + Patterson + Przybilla (80% insur.) + Jeffries for CP3 + Okafor 2b) ...for Granger + Ford/Dunleavy 2c) ???... for Melo Rockets can add draft picks, rights, and even Fernandez (if off-season trade) to make their offer more attractive.
Send him back. Rudy is just too soft and too much of a butterfly. He can shoot, make some creative passes, a few steals, etc, but he needs to go. Maybe D'Antoni could make good use of him since defense and toughness wouldn't be required.
He was the tight sauce in last year's dunk contest. Besides that, let him go, but don't renegotiate the contract or buy him out. What a p**** thing to do. If he's unhappy, then tough cookie. Make him leave the remainder of what he is owed on the table and he can walk away. Wasn't even that great in Live.
One day he'll tell the overseas press, I want to come home! The next day, he'll be telling the U.S. press how much he loves playing in the NBA. Even recently made a wish list of teams! As Carlos Lee said, just [take your ball and] go home.
Ive posted quite a bit on Rudy F in the past so I won't beat the dead horse by going too much into detail on why he's not succeeded or not tasted as much success as expected but in short he's NEVER been the same since the flagrant foul by Trevor Ariza. The guy basically got a rockstar welcome from Portland fans who were chanting "Rudy" and greeting him since the moment he got off the plane. He showed flashes of becoming a stud in the league. He was athletic, crafty, scrappy, a knockdown shooter, looked to be a great fit in the NBA right away and he was about as smooth as one could get. Ever since the foul he's played like a poon. Plain and simple. No aggressiveness, very hesitant, blaming others and complaining. One other sidenote that didn't help. Sergio Rodriguez was his BFF here in Portland. They were even roomates at one time. I know it was hard for Rudy when Sergio left. It's not surprising someone that sensitive and emotional would want to go back home.
Waaaah waaaah waaah. Shut the heck up already geez. He has become a bigger girl than T-Mac. I wonder if his dad calls Nate McMillan demanding his son get more minutes. Roy went down last year, did Fernandez step up?
